SCURL

NORTH AMERICAN STUDIES GROUP

The North American Studies Group was established in 1995 under the auspices of the SCURL Collections and Services Advisory Group with a remit to explore the coordination of acquisition and the sharing of resources on North America; to promote the research resources available on North America in Scottish libraries, especially through the use of new technology; and to communicate and liaise with other groups in the field, especially the British Association of American Studies and the British Association for Canadian Studies through their Library and Resources Groups, and the Scottish Association for the Study of America. The area covered is the continental land mass of North America, and the subjects covered are the humanities and social sciences. The group acts as a forum for academics and librarians with an interest in North American resources to exchange information, coordinate acquisition policy and initiate any projects that will publicise or otherwise augment the provision of resources for the study of the USA and Canada in Scotland.

Projects

The group has compiled a union list of US and Canadian newspapers in Scottish libraries and detailed statements on Research Resources on North America in Scottish Libraries. Current projects in progress include a finding-list at document level of unpublished manuscripts relating to Scottish emigration to North America, and an online Bibliography of Scottish Emigration to North America. The group is also establishing a database containing profiles of teaching and research interests in North American Studies in Scottish universities, and is planning a survey of materials held throughout Scotland that relate to Scottish emigration to Canada and the USA.

Membership

Most Scottish university libraries with significant holdings in North American Studies are represented in the group, along with the National Library of Scotland and the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Members of these institutions ('core members'), a mixture of librarians and academic staff, attend meetings three or four times a year. There are also 'corresponding members' from other interested institutions or groups, who receive copies of the minutes and any other relevant documents.

Professions of interest or suggestions for further initiatives which will improve the acquisition, documentation and promotion of North American resources in Scotland are welcomed.

Convener: Dr Tony Parker, University of Dundee (a.w.parker@dundee.ac.uk)

Secretary: Dr Kevin Halliwell, National Library of Scotland (k.halliwell@nls.uk)

Resources for American and Canadian Studies in Scottish University and Research Libraries

 

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